This is another reason to eat salmon.
Salmon, a well-regarded healthy food, has come under the spotlight in a new study that delves into its health benefits from a metabolomic perspective. The research reveals that salmon contains 508 food-specific compounds (FSCs), with 237 metabolites unique to salmon. When incorporated into a Mediterranean diet, salmon provides the body with 48 of these compounds and 30 metabolites, resulting in four metabolites associated with significant improvements in cardiometabolic health indicators (CHI).
The Mediterranean diet, known for its emphasis on healthy fats like olive oil and a focus on plant-based nutrition, has been linked to various health benefits. In the study, 41 participants adopted a Mediterranean diet, including two servings of salmon per week. The researchers conducted a secondary analysis, measuring participants’ CHIs before and after the diet intervention.
Chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics was employed to analyze participants’ plasma, along with salmon and 99 other foods consumed in a Mediterranean diet. The study identified specific salmon FSCs and associated metabolites linked to cardiometabolic health improvements, such as reduced cholesterol and triglycerides.
While the findings suggest potential health benefits, experts emphasize the need for further research to confirm these outcomes. Some experts express reservations about reducing food to molecular levels and emphasize the complexity of individual biochemistries, genetics, and other factors in assessing the overall impact of specific food compounds on health. They caution against adopting an overly granular approach to food and stress the multifaceted nature of health beyond dietary considerations.
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